CHINA SEAS
US, 1935, 87 minutes, Colour.
Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Rosalind Russell, Wallace Beery, Akim Tamiroff, Lewis Stone, C. Aubrey Smith, Robert Benchley.
Directed by Tay Garnett.
China Seas is a romantic adventure melodrama from M.G.M. in the thirties. It seems to show its age now rather badly. Clark Gable and Jean Harlow had made a great impression in Red Dust in 1932. Here they are teamed for dynamic romantic action on the China Seas.
Gable is his ordinary tough heroic self. Jean Harlow seems rather brash and loud as the heroine. There is a counter-point in the sophisticated English heroine played by Rosalind Russell. There are assorted MGM supporting stars on the ship like Sir C. Aubrey Smith, Akim Tamiroff, Lewis Stone as a coward sailor with a chance to make good. Wallace Beery is an eccentric sailor with Malay pirates. Contrived far-fetched adventure of the thirties.
1. An entertaining romance adventure? Of the thirties? Impact now?
2. The luxury liner conventions? passengers, difficulties, the role of the captain, pirates? The romance - the bold, brassy blonde and the sedate English lady? A Clark Gable-Jean? Harlow romance?
3. Photography, studio sets, the atmosphere of the China Seas - or not? Score? Special effects especially for the storm?
4. The Hollywood world? The real world? Enough plausibility for plot purposes? For the conventions of China and the South Seas? Romance? The ship, the captain, the owner, the range of passengers, their presence in this part of the world? China Doll and her involvement with Macardle? The pirates?
5. The qualities of the Clark Gable hero? Strengths and weaknesses? Man of action, masculinity, relationship with China Doll, with the refined English lady? Heroism, treatment of passengers, the pirates, the torture, rectifying everything? Final decisions? Conventional but attractive hero?
6. The contrast of Jean Harlow’s style as China Doll and that of Rosalind Russell as the refined English lady? Jean Harlow's particular style, coming on strongly, loud, blousy? Spurned, joining Macardle, her being saved by Allan at the end? The English woman and her refinement, her passion for Allan, presence on the ship, clash with China Doll? Losing at the end?
7. Macardle as villain? His presence on the ship, pirates, handling of the situation especially the league with China Doll? His death?
8. The minor gallery of characters on the ship - pianists and jewellery, ladies, cosmopolitan Eurasians? The hero who had been cowardly and who saves the day etc.?
9. The impact of the storm sequences? The pirate invasion?
10. Conventional Hollywood adventure material? An unreal world? Audience presuppositions of right and wrong. good and bad? Entertainment?
